June 21, 2011

The Double Hour (La Doppia Ora)

Being the “Italophile” that I am, when I learned that an Italian language movie (with English subtitles) was playing at the local arthouse movie theater, I was determined to see it. “The Double Hour” is a suspenseful thriller. I spent most of the movie on the edge of my seat…a few times even jumping out of it!

Sonia is a chambermaid in a hotel in Turin, Italy. At a “speed dating” event one evening, she meets Guido, a handsome ex-cop with a troubled soul. They form a connection, and Guido explains to Sonia that when the hour and the minutes of the clock are the same, that is “la doppia ora”, the double hour, and that is the moment where you can make a wish. While the two of them are on a romantic getaway, they are interrupted by a shocking act of violence. What happens next is a complicated, convoluted psychological thriller with some roller coaster twists and turns. The characters were so interesting, and the plot leaves you guessing until the very end. If you get the chance, try to see it. Non ve ne pentirete! (You won’t be sorry)